QUESTION #5 -- March 4, 2008
Well, I broke my own commitment to Sundays this time, but for good reason, which I'll get to in a moment...
As for the last question, I think my dream accolade would be the 'Affected Lives for the Better' award, the statue being made of dark chocolate and gold leaf in the shape of something resembling the globe and a big heart if they were to morph. My loved ones, Oprah, Bono and Nelson Mandela would be gleaming in the front row, and the after party would feature shameless disco and food by Gordon Ramsey.
More importantly.....
I have learned over the years that the 'everything happens for a reason' thinking applies to my work, and that I get assigned precisely the stories I'm meant to do even if I don't see that at the outset. This past weekend I was sent to Cleveland to spend the day with a beautiful couple, Barbara and Tim Marlowe, who are now foster parents to 6-yr-old Teeba, the Iraqi girl featured in PEOPLE who was burned in a car bombing in her native town. This little girl is the most spirited, old soul being housed in the body and life story of someone that has seen more pain and tragedy than all of us collectively are apt to ever know. I could talk for days about how my time with them impacted me beyond the open heartedness, generosity, hope, and will I witnessed. I encourage you to read about them and if it feels right, send a contribution to the education fund that's been set up for Teeba, info below.
As for QUESTION #5-- IS THERE A CHARITABLE ACT, HOWEVER GUTSY, UNCOMFORTABLE OR FAR-REACHING, THAT YOU'VE CONSIDERED?
To make a contribution, make checks payable to:
Teeba Furat Fadhil Savings Fund
c/o National City Bank, 8537 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060
Bring a homeless person home to live at my house until they can get on their feet again. Giving them whatever they need to accomplish this.
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I really dig www.kiva.org it's an amazing program where you basically lend money to people in third world countries so they can start their own business or better their existing business. I learned about this from an interview with Bill Clinton and checked it out. You can lend as little as $25 at a time. Once the loan is filled an agency gets the money over to the business owner. Then the business owner uses that money to make the changes they need in their business and starts the re-payment process. The re-payment process can take as little as five months or up to a year. Each month the business owner pays back the loan little by little. At the end of the re-payment process, your account is credited with the money you lent. At that point you can withdraw your inital investment or fund other loans. I have helped to fund four loans so far and am going to start doing at least one per month now. It's an amazing process and you can track the person's business and read their journal entries as well as the loan officers entries. You feel like you are now connected to these people and you actually get to watch them grow as a business owner and person.
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I tried to save the world but is to big,but finally i realize that if you can change one life for the better, maybe this one will do the same and so on... and what a better way than adopting someone;it will take all the will, the guts and more;perhaps all your life,,but is worth it. The result? who knows but you tried
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I'm a social worker and the amount of charity I do through my work and outside of it...some would say is rather ridiculous. I've done a lot and for some silly reason I still one of these days (and I will) join the peace corps and do something overseas after I've attempted to do all that I can for those over here on our own soil.
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I still fantasize about selling everything I own, adopting all the 16-18 year olds around the world and giving them a home, lots of love, guidance, an instant family, a college education and a financially secure future!
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My 7 yr. old daughter so badly wants to write Teeba a letter. please help if you can give us a mailing address or e~mail. Than you so very much!
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As the "mom" now of little Teeba, I can tell you that my husband and I are very protective of this old soul in this young and fragile body. She has the strength and determination of 100 lions, but her sense of self is quite fragile. That being said, our time spent with Cali interviewing us and being a part of the assignment she was entrusted with gives me hope that there are wonderful, caring people in the media. At this juncture, I must also add that Joanne Fowler who wrote the People Magazine article was also an angel. But back to Angel Cali, her calmness and sensitivity reassured us that the leap we were taking publically would be okay. I'm in awe of her gentle heart. Media can go in so many directions, but I am thankful that God has put the best of the best in our path. I am now addicted to this website and will be contributing my two cents now and again!
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I'd create a self critically acclaimed treatiss on why women should take over the running of this planet, while men would specialize in lifting heavy objects and erecting large monuments to women.
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Considered taking in a 19yo distant-family-friend who is schizophrenic. Giving him a routine to follow, physical exercise, etc, kinda give him a routine.
Thank goodness I haven't offered, because its far beyond my abilities.
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